Traffic light



TRAFFIC LIGHT c. G. wlLcox ET AL Filed Dec. 17, 1930 March 15, 1932.

TELL.

Patented Mar. 1932 UNITED 'STATES PATENT o1-Fics CLAYTON G. WILCOX ANDJEREMIAH J'. SHOEMAKER, 0F GARRETTSVILLE, OHIO TRAFFIC LIGHT Application:Bled December 17, 1930. Serial No. 502,949.

This invention relates to trafic 'si nal devices, employed at thejunction o streets where vehicles of diiferent kinds cross'each otherspath, and has for one of its objects to provide an electricallyactuated., apparatus whereby signals may bedisplayed to the view of thedrivers of vehicles approaching from a pluralityfof directions, andincluding light bulbs of dierent colors and means for chang- Lo ing theilluminating means at predetermined intervals.

A With the above and other objects in view, the invention consistssubstantially in the structure herein shown, described and de- [5 linedin the claims, and in the drawings illustrative ofthe preferredembodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is a 'vertical sectionviewed from one side. Figure 2 is a vertical right angles to Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a diagram of the electric wiring. The improved apparatusincludes an enclosing shell or casing preferably polygo- Bo sectionviewed at nal in cross section, and having openings 11 1n y one or moresides. lSupported within the openings are glass or transparent panels 12through which the light imparting means is observable. Disposed withinthe shell 10 is a bracket or standard 13 having a lateral exten'- 27sion 14 carrying'bearings 15 and 16 to support centrally thereof avertical shaft 17. At

1ts upper end the shaft 17 is forme-d with a plurality of lateralbranches 18 upturned at their outer'ends and each terminating in abearing 19 carrying shaft 20, each of the stub shafts carrying a bevelgear 21. The shaft 17 also carries a bevel gear 22 meshing with allofthe bevel gears 21 whereb motion is transmitted from the verticalshaft 17 simultaneously to all of the stub shafts through the ears 21.

Attached to the outer en 'of each of the a laterally directed stub:

stub shafts 20 and rotative therewith and within the casing, is aradially directed frame 24 which' may ywell be rectangular in outlineand having a transparent member 25 of different colorj inserted therein.The frame 50 being closely adjacent the @nel 12, is rotatably movable ina plane parallel to such panel. Coupled, ixedlyto each of the stationarybearings 19 is a concave reflecting mirror 26, the same being spacedfroml the v casing wall so that the frame 24 may move between the paneland mirror.

The source of light is within the mirror "and between the latter andframe, as will be later ,explainedf The main drive shaft is indicated at27, and is adapted to be driven by a suitable motor (not shown) andcarries a bevel gear 28 on the inner end in engagement with a bevel gear29 on the shaft 17 The shaft 17 65 is supported by a stop colla 30, andcontinuing the shaftl 17 downwardly is a separate' section 31. The shaft17 carries a clutch member 32, while the shaft section 31carries anopposing clutch member 33. Slidable on 7o the shaft section 31 betweenthe clutch members 32 and 33 is a double-faced clutch memthe clutchmembers 32 and 33. v collar 35 encircles a sleeve 35 on the shaftsection 31 75'.

and supports the inner end of the drive shaft Mounted to swingJat 36 tothe standardl/B is a shipper, lever 37, the free end of the lever beingcoupled in the usual manner to o crate the double-faced clutch member34. solenoid magnet, indicatedat 38, is coupled by its with whichvspring contacts 45--46-47 are 90 adapted to be alternately engaged tomake and break contacts as the drum is rotated. The shaft of the drum 41carried a bevel wheel 48 engagingga bevel pinion 49 on the shaft section31. y this means the rotation of the shaft 31 is communicated to thedrum 41. 7

One or more light bulbs, indicated at 50, are fixedly disposed withineach of the reflectors 26, and sufficiently spaced from the casing wallto be out of the path movement of the frame 24.

The shaft section 31 is,provided with a v bevel gear 51 engaging asmaller bevel gear 52 formed on the larger gear 28 by which motion iscommunicated to the shaft 31 vand its connections. l

Having now described our invention, that which we claim to be new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a stationary lighttransmitting medium, a stationary reflector associated -with saidmedium, a member movable transversely of said medium and about the aXisof said reflector, and having `a transparent portion through which thelight rays from said medium and reflector pass. l

2. In an apparatus of the class described including an enclosing casinghaving a plu# r'ality of lateralopenings and a vertical shaft having adrive gear centrally mounted within said casing, a plurality of stubshafts associated with said Vertical shaft, directed toward the severalopenings and respectively carrying gears meshing with the gear of thevertical shaft, a member within said casing carried by each ofthe saidstub shafts and rotative therewith, and each having a transparentportion, a light transmitting medium parent portions and lateralopenings, and

from which light passes' through vsaid transmeansfor imparting motion'to said drive shaft and the parts connected therewith.

3. In an apparatus of the class described,

transmitting medium fixed relative to each of said mirrors and mountedbetween the same and the openings, a member rotative with each of saidstub shafts and having a transparent portion and having a path ofmovement in a plane between said opening and mirror and coaxial with thelatter, and means) for actuating said vertical shaft.

In testimony whereof we affix our4 signatures.

CLAYTON G. WILCOX.

JEREMIAI-I J. SHOEMAKER.

an enclosing cas-ing having a lateral opening,

a-rotatable drive shaft mounted within said casing, a stub shaft, meansfor transmitting motion from the drive shaft to the stub shaft, a memberrotative with said stub shaft and.

y having a transparent portion moving in a vwithin said casing andhaving a drive gear on its upper end, a plurality. of stub shaftsdirected toward the several openings and rey spectively carrying gejarsvmeshing `with the gear of the vertical shaft, a stationary refleetingmirror adjacent each of -said o n- 05 ings and concentric with a stubshaft, s. light

